Support for ships&#39; berths.



WITNESSES m l E/vT G. VI-GIE. SUPPORT FOR SHIPS BERTHS. APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 10,1904.

PATENTBD MAR. 21, 1905.

' ranged in groups.

Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES VIGIF], OF MARSEILLES, FRANCE.

SUPPORT FOR SHIPS BERTHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,455, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed June 10, 1904. $erial No. 211,941.

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGES Vieni, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Marseilles, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Supports for Ships Berths, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification.

Ships which are adapted for the transport of cargo have sometimes to be utilized for the transport of troops, emigrants, and, generally speaking, of large numbers of persons. In order to accommodate on board this large increase in the normal number of passengers, special provision is made whereby the betweendecks of the vessel may be furnished with removablebunks. It is preferable that the bunks should be dismountable and all their parts interchangeable in order that it may be possible to arrange the between-decks alternately for the transport of passengers or of cargo-on the outward and homeward voyages, for examplein such a manner that the parts of which the bunks are composed may be stowed away without any particular arrangement when not in use, While being readily and speedily remountable when desired. The essential portion of the bunks consists of the uprights, whichare generally of iron and hollow, but which may be solid and, if desired, of wood. In order toplace these uprights in position and to keep them vertical, it has hitherto been necessary to arrange between decks iron fittings, usually consisting of sockets fixed to the decks and cross pieces or straps fixed to the upper part. These parts may be fixed, because they do not interfere with the stowing of cargo. They are also sometimes bolted in place; but in any case they call for a considerable amount of fitting, and, further, they necessitate that the position of the bunks shall be determined in advance, as they are ar- It is not afterward possible to modify the arrangement of the groups without entirely altering the fittings for the uprights which support the bunks.

The object of this invention is to effect the installation of bunks without any preliminary preparation being required. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to find means for firmly fixing vertical uprights between decks in such a way that they may be able to support themselves and resist the slight tendency to dislocation to which the sheet-metal plates forming the decks are liable.

With the device which forms the subject of this invention it is no longer necessary to determine in advance the positions which the bunks are to occupy. They may be arranged at will in more or less closely packed groups, according to the requirements. In addition it is not requisite to take into account the exact heights of the between-decks, as the uprights-may be adjusted to different heights by means of arms or movable pins. The uprights may therefore be used on different vessels notwithstanding variations in the height of the ceiling.

In the following description it should be understood that only typical examples of the application of the invention are given. Only some examples of different forms of the invention as regards the arrangement of the springs are described.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved support for ships berths. showing the same in operative position; and Fig. 2 is a similar View of a slightly-modified form of support.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

As shown in the drawings, the upright may be in two members (a I), Fig. 1, one entering the other, a spring being provided which furnishes a thrust of the desired degree. The spiral spring 0 bears, on the one hand, upon the tube and, on the other, on a washer r, bolted to the part a. This washer may be adjusted as desired and arranged at the points in such a manner as to compensate for any differences there may be in the heights between decks. At the upper part 8 and at the lower part 8 are formed shoes adapted to receive pieces of wood, leather, or other suitable material for producing better adhesion with the plates of the fioor and ceiling.

The spiral spring 0 (represented in Fig. 1) may either be arranged internally or in any other appropriate manner. Fig. 2 represents a modification comprising another form of spring; but the principle of the invention remains the same. The spring may also be of any other suitable kind, as already mentioned.

Known means, which it is unnecessary to describe, permit of compressing the spring when the upright is being placed in position and of regulating its tension during use.

It will be obvious that the essential feature of the invention is the employment of springs for the purpose of maintaining the part or parts constituting each pillar or upright firmly applied to the floor and ceiling.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright having resilient means for frictionally engaging a deck floor and ceiling.

2. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright having spring-actuated means for frictionally engaging a deck floor and ceiling.

3. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright of adjustableheight having springactuated means for engaging a deck floor and ceiling.

4. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright embodying telescoping members,

and a spring acting upon said members for normally maintaining the upright in extended position.

5. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright embodying telescoping members,

a spring acting upon said members for normally maintaining the upright in extended position, and means for permitting the adjustment of said spring to the required tension.

6. A support for ships berths, comprising a tubular member, a cylindrical member movable therein, a washer adjustable along said cylindrical member, anda spring surrounding said cylindrical member and interposed between said Washer and the inner end of said tubular member.

7. A support for ships berths, comprising an upright having a terminal shoe for frictionally engaging a deck floor or ceiling.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGES VIGIE.

Vitnesses:

Auensrn RIGADE, VIo'roR H. MORGA 

